Source: gmanews.tv
-- Hardly had the euphoria died down following the re-inclusion of Bill Vicera and the 45kg class in the boxing competitions of the 25th Southeast Asian Games (SEAG), when the RP boxing team suddenly found itself on the receiving end of a major setback.
Drawn with a tough opponent from Thailand in the opening round, Asian Games gold medal winner Joan Tipon lost in his bid for the gold, beaten by Chatchai Butdee in their 54kg (bantamweight) showdown, 9-4, Friday at the Olympasia gymnasium inside the National University.
Tipon, gold medal winner during the 2006 Asiad in Doha, engaged the 24-year old Thai in a close, toe-to-toe battle for two straight rounds, only to fade away when the match was on the line.
Butdee, a quarterfinalist in the last World Amateur Boxing Championship, also beat the Filipino in the 2009 Kings Cup in Bangkok where he emerged as the Best Boxer of the tournament.
"We’re hoping na sa finals sila magkikita. Pero medyo napaaga because of the draw," said Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) executive director Ed Picson.
"But no excuses. Magaling talaga yung Thai, a very good counter puncher," added the ABAP official.
The loss of Tipon left the men’s boxing team down to just a five-man squad after the International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) on Thursday night granted the appeal of the Philippines to re-insert the pinweight class in the sport calendar of the meet.
That paved the way for Vicera to see action in the 45 kg division, where he pounded out a 7-5 win over M. Fuad of Malaysia.
"It’s a welcome news for us because we came here with a six-man lineup in our men’s team. Kung nawala pa yun, that could have been very unfortunate incident for us," Picson said.
Charlie Suarez was the other Filipino boxer to hurdle his first round opponent, scoring an impressive first round knockout against Manuel Batisia of Timor Leste.
On Saturday, the women’s team plunges into action behind reigning Asian champion Annie Albania, Josie Gabucco and Kate Aparri.
Only former Asian champion Mitchel Martinez drew a bye on opening round.
Friday, December 11, 2009
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